Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, June 7
Dear Beloved,
How are you as a new month begins? How is it with your body, mind, and spirit? I love that God invites us to love, worship, and serve with all we are - heart, mind, soul, and strength. I love that God chooses to come and live among us in the flesh - incarnate - God with us - God who needed nourishment and rest - God who understands who we are - all of who we are.
This past Sunday the wellness ministry team was commissioned. I am grateful for Friedens and for the United Church of Christ who recognize wellness as part of the work of the church - part of the work of the prophets and servant leaders we find in the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures. We recognize wellness as part of Jesus’ ministry of caring for and with people, animals, and the earth when sick and injured. Jesus reached out to people who were distraught and wounded, isolated and abandoned, rejected and kept at a distance, thirsty and hungry…. Wellness can be defined, thought of, imagined and hoped for in many different ways. What did the ministry of wellness look like for Jesus’ early followers and the first churches? What does it look like for us today? I believe we all have areas and spaces within us of unwellness and dis-ease, and we all have areas of healing and recovery. I’m grateful that we are a church who can be honest with each other and reach out for prayer and encouragement as we seek to honor God with all we are when we are feeling well and when we are feeling unwell and all the places in between. I am grateful that we are part of a Global Ministries, Open and Affirming, Just Peace congregation who honors all bodies. I hope you will pray for and participate in these upcoming summer opportunities that may help us think about wellness and inclusivity in the beloved community and the shalom made known and being made known to us by the peace of our Creator, the love of Jesus, and the compassion of the Spirit.
Sunday, June 7th during the Treasure Seekers and Middle School Class - Mental Health activities with Shar’ron Mason
Sunday, June 14th Safe Zone LBGTQ+ 101 Training with Alicia and Jenn Harding
Sunday, June 26th from 9:30 to 12:30 - Disability Justice Fair
It is a blessing and joy to serve with you. I appreciate you!
With gratitude and hope,
Sarah
All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife
Matthew 1:22-24
